No image by Charles Dana Gibson is more closely associated with the rise of the "Gibson Girl" than During the evening, a work whose title alone conjures the refined rituals of American upper-class society at the turn of the twentieth century. Though the precise date and medium remain uncertain, this piece is widely recognized as a key example of Gibson's signature style, which helped define the visual ideal of American femininity for a generation. The Gibson Girl became a cultural phenomenon, appearing everywhere from magazine covers to advertisements, and even influencing fashion and social attitudes.

During the evening stands out for capturing this archetype in a moment of poised leisure, a scene that resonated with contemporary viewers and critics alike. The scene unfolds in a genteel drawing room, where elegantly dressed women and men gather amid soft lamplight and polished furnishings. The central figure, almost certainly a Gibson Girl, sits serenely with her chin lifted, her elaborate coiffure and tailored gown marking her as both modern and unattainable. Around her, conversation ebbs and flows, but Gibson’s crisp penwork isolates her in a bubble of calm self-assurance.

The artist’s deft use of line—at once fluid and precise—renders the textures of silk and velvet, while subtle gestures and glances hint at the complex social choreography of courtship and display. Unlike the more satirical takes of Honoré Daumier or the psychological depth of John Singer Sargent, Gibson’s approach is lighter, focusing on surface and style to capture the spirit of his age. As with many of Gibson’s works, During the evening was likely first published in a popular magazine, reaching a wide audience and helping to cement his reputation as the leading illustrator of the Progressive Era. The original drawing’s whereabouts are not well documented, a common fate for works created primarily for reproduction rather than gallery display.

Nevertheless, its influence endures in countless reproductions and in the enduring image of the Gibson Girl herself. Today, the piece is studied not only as a work of art but as a lens into the aspirations and anxieties of its era, marking a high point in Gibson’s prolific and influential career.